Iraq crisis: Sunni leaders say could work with new PM

In a move that could end political deadlock in Iraq, leaders of the Sunni Muslim minority have said they could work with the new Shiite prime minister-designate Haider al-Abadi.

According to the BBC, a group of leaders from restive Sunni provinces issued a joint statement addressed to Abadi, who took over from Nouri Maliki on Thursday.

They proposed to join the new government if the security and civil administrations in their areas were given equal status to that of the central government, the report said.

The Sunni leaders demanded that the Iraqi military halt the bombing of Sunni provinces and cities and said that local people should be permitted to take charge of Sunni cities.

Calling for a reform of the Iraqi army, the group asked for the release of political detainees, along with the demand to stop executions and the pulling out of militias in Sunni provinces.

Meanwhile, Islamic State militants in Northern Iraq reportedly killed at least 80 Yazidi Iraqis in a village and kidnapped many women and children.

IS militants entered Kocho area on Friday, telling men to either convert to Islam or die.

Islamic State activities have shocked the international community.

The UN Security Council earlier imposed sanctions on IS militants.

The United Sates had reportedly destroyed two vehicles of the IS militants through drone attacks.

Violence was reported in the Sunni Anbar province, west of Baghdad, where some parts are under IS control.